SABINA Website
Blog Entries about SABINA
Monthly Updates
Image Gallery
Selected SABINA Publications and Workshops
About SABINA
Because of the great biodiversity of southern Africa, increased capacity in natural products research has the potential to increase food security, public health, and value-added exports. The SABINA network trains both PhD and MSc scientists through research in the biochemistry and chemistry of natural products, including bioinformatics as an essential tool for data management and the elucidation of structure and function. Research focuses on increasing the understanding of useful plants or fungi (such as mushrooms, seaweeds, and tea crops) through the study of screening assays, biosynthetic pathways, gene expression, modes of action, synthetic production and genetic diversity.
Leaders and their Institutions
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Academic Director and Secretariat
Prof. John D. Saka, Department of Chemistry
University of Malawi |
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Dr. John Becker
African Centre for Gene Technologies/Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa
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Prof. Jane Morris
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa
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Prof. Zeno Apostolides, Department of Biochemistry
University of Pretoria, South Africa
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Prof. Charles de Koning, Department of Chemistry
University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa |
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Prof. Martha Kandawa-Schulz, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Science
University of Namibia
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Dr. Sylvester Lyantagaye, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Dr. Quintino Mgani, Department of Chemistry
University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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Prof. Hastings Nyirenda
Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa, Malawi |
Blog Entries about SABINA
Mushrooms by the Numbers: A SABINA Master's in Bioinformatics (10/11)
Traditional Cure Inspires Biochemistry Student (10/09)
The Makings of a Natural Products Researcher (10/09)
A Better Cuppa Tea for Malawi (5/09)
Selected SABINA Publications and Workshops
Jane Morris and John K. Saka, "Establishing a Southern African Natural Products Partnership", BiovisionAlexandria 2010. Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Cairo, Egypt. April 11-15, 2010.
John Saka, "Partnership in Basic Science Enhances Human Capital Development and Better Application of Science in Development: Experiences From IPICS Funding and SABINA Project in Southern Africa" (abstract here), Regional and Interregional Cooperation to Strengthen Basic Sciences in Developing Countries. United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. September 1-4, 2009. (Full conference proceedings are available here.)
Updates
April 2012:
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Tinotenda Shoko, UNIMA MSc student successfully defended his MSc dissertation titled “A Study of Volatile Flavour Constituents of Edible Fruit Pulps of Parinari curatellifolia, Strychnos cocculoides and Leaves of Fadogia ancylantha, Manihot esculenta and Colocasia esculenta Growing in Malawi” on 12 April 2012. Meanwhile, he is making some corrections for final submission of his thesis.
The POLSABINA Secretariat will hand over the rain shelter to the Tea Research Foundation for Central Africa (TRFCA), Mulanje, Malawi on 11 May 2012. The TRFCA is a member of the SABINA network.
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March 2012:
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Petrina Kapewangolo, UP PhD student, received top honours and scholarship award from Margaret McNamara Memorial Funds amounting to US$4,000 to contribute towards tuition and expenses during her doctoral studies. |
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Ken Ngwira, who was at UDSM, successfully completed his MSc studies and has since returned to University of Malawi. He will return to Tanzania to graduate in September, 2012. |
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The project has offered Mrs Tresia Ndiimwenena Iipinge from the University of Namibia a fellowship to pursue MSc studies at at UDSM, mentored by Drs Sylvester Lyantagaye, and Quintino Mgani. Her provisional research topic is “Screening of Kylinga alata extracts for antimicrobial activity against some common pathogenic bacteria of the respiratory system”. |
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Miss Lydia Kisula from Tanzania will study for an MSc at UNIMA where she will work on “Natural products of priority neutraceuticals from edible plants and fruits”. She will be jointly supervised by Prof John Saka and Drs Quintino Mgani and Vinesh Maharaj. |
February 2012:
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Dr Justin Omolo, University of Dar es Salaam submitted a re-entry grant proposal application titled “Phytochemistry and synthesis of bioactive xanthones and pure compounds from plants used for treatment of malaria” to the SABINA International Advisory Committee for review and recommendation to SABINA for possible funding. |
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Jimmy Sumani, PhD student completed his registration process at WITS and subsequently commenced research work under the mentorship of Prof Charles De Koning. |
January 2012:
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Godwil Madamombe, UP PhD student gave a presentation at the 2nd All Africa Horticultural Congress at Skukuza, Kruger National Park, South Africa, 15-20 January 2012. The title of the paper was “Yield and quality decline in vegetative propagated cultivar tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) under continuous harvesting”. |
Eleven applications (3 female) were received for 2011/12 SABINA MSc Fellowship. A dossier containing the applications and supporting documents has been circulated to the project members for review.
December 2011:
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Justin Omolo, WITS PhD student submitted his final PhD Thesis on 2 December 2011 and recommended for the award of PhD. He will graduate in June 2012. Meanwhile, Dr Omolo has since returned to the University of Dar es Salaam and is developing a re-entry grant proposal for possible funding by SABINA. |
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Kumbukani Nyirenda, UNIMA PhD student made a presentation at the Malawi National AIDS Commission Dissemination Workshop, Lilongwe, Malawi on 28 November 2011. The title of the paper was “Phytochemical Profile and Biological activity of three selected plants traditionally used for the treatment of HIV and opportunistic diseases in Malawi.” |
November 2011:
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Kumbukani Nyirenda, UNIMA PhD student completed a 3 month study tour of CSIR, South Africa under the mentorship of Dr. Vinesh Maharaj and currently plans are underway to explore the use the mini processing plant at TRFCA-Mulanje, Malawi for value adding to indigenous herbal tea. |
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Prof Oleg Reva conducted a 5 day (14-18 November 2011) lecture course on “Introduction to Phylogenetics” at the University of Dar Salaam which attracted 22 master’s students and staff members with support from POLSABINA and SABINA. |
October 2011:
Prof John Saka, Drs John Becker, Quintino Mgani and Martha Kandawa-Schulz and Mr Frank Ngonda participated in the RISE Annual meeting held in Kampala, Uganda from 13-16 October 2011.
September 2011:
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Prof John Saka visited University of Pretoria and CSIR, RSA from 17-20 September 2011. During the visit, he presented a paper at CSIR titled “Traditional medicine research in Malawi” and held supervisory discussions with Drs Vinesh Maharaj and Dashnie Naidoo involving the PhD student, Kumbukani Nyirenda (UNIMA PhD student on a 3 month study tour of CSIR). Furthermore, he participated in an urgent SABINA project planning meeting with Prof Jane Morris and Ella Nyakunu at ACGT. |
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Justin Omolo's (Wits PhD student) manuscript titled "The synthesis of xanthones, xanthenediones and spirobenzofurans: Their antibacterial and antifungal activity” has been accepted for publication in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters. |
Financial Managers of SABINA nodes will be participating in the POLSABINA/SABINA Financial Training workshop at the University of Pretoria from 27 September -1 October 2011.
August 2011:
July 2011:
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Pelly Malebe, UP MSc student successfully defended her MSc dissertation titled “Development of Molecular Marker Assisted Selection for Drought Tolerance in Tea Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze” on 27 June 2011. She is preparing a draft manuscript for publication. She is now processing her admission into the PhD programme at the same University; this will be set in July. |
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Tinotenda Shoko, UNIMA MSc student has submitted his thesis titled “A study of volatile flavour constituents of edible fruit pulps of Parinari curatellifolia, Strychnos cocculoides and leaves of Fadogia ancylantha, Manihot esculenta and Colocasia esculenta growing in Malawi” for internal and external examination. |
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Justin Omolo, Wits PhD has had a paper titled “The Synthesis of Bioactive Xanthones and Related Products Inspired by Natural Products Isolated from a Tanzanian Medicinal Plant” accepted for presentation at the 2nd International Tanzania Chemical Society Conference, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, October 5-7, 2011. |
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Kumbukani Nyirenda, UNIMA PhD student, is currently finalising arrangements for his second visit to CSIR, South Africa on a 3 month study tour to undertake laboratory research work under the mentorship of Dr. Vinesh Maharaj from 1 August 2011. He will be carrying out a phytochemical and anti-microbial analysis of the remaining medicinal plants in his PhD research work which focuses on “Phytochemistry and Biological Activity of Four Local Plants for Treatment of Diabetes and HIV in Malawi." |
May 2011:
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Pelly Malebe from RSA and Jimmy Sumani from UNIMA accepted to pursue PhD studies at the UP and WITS. Meanwhile, Pelly Malebe and Jimmy Sumani are processing registration with the universities. |
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Secilia Ilonga from University of Namibia , has been offered SABINA fellowship to pursue PhD studies at UNAM/WITS . This follows Mr. Lewis Mtashobya from UDSM turning down the offer since he is now studying for a PhD at the University of Southampton-UK. |
March 2011:
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Benjamin Kumwenda, PhD student at UP presented the a poster titled “Comparative genomics study of completely sequenced Thermus sp. Strains to enhance and facilitate their application in biotechnology for thermostable enzyme biosynthesis” at the International Society for Computational Biologists (ISCB) conference held at Cape Town International Convention Centre from 9-11 March and also at the Young Researchers Forum for the ISCB on 5 March 2011 at the University of Cape Town. |
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Godwil Madamombe, PhD student at UP is currently on a study tour at TRFCA, Chipinge, Zimbabwe for field research. |
The Project Team is finalising the selection and invitation of the three PhD fellows under the second phase funding.
February 2011:
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SABINA with funding from the POLSABINA successfully organised a 2 -day grant proposal and scientific writing training workshop for project staff and students from 21-22 February 2011 at Heja Lodge, Windhoek, Namibia. The training workshop attracted 12 students and 12 staff members and was facilitated by Prof Moses Chimbari from the University of Botswana. |
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SABINA held its Third Annual Review Meeting from 23-25 February 2011 at Heja Lodge, Windhoek, Namibia and was officially opened by Prof Kiremire, Dean of the Faculty of Science, representing the DVC-Academic Affairs and Research of the University of Namibia. During this meeting, students presented progress reports and received constructive feedback. The annual meeting was also attended by two members of the SABINA/POLSABINA International Advisory Committee, Profs Yukihiko Hara and Avrelija Cencic. The IAC team evaluated the quality of presentation with areas of improvement for both the students and the whole project. The Project Staff Meeting took place on 25 February 2011 at which the work plan for phase 2 was consolidated and agreed upon by the project members. |
January 2011: The Secretariat commenced preparations for the SABINA/POLSABINA Third Review Meeting , which will take place from 20-26 February, 2011 at Heja Lodge, Windhoek, Namibia. The Meeting will include a Grant Proposal Training Workshop. Participants in the workshop will include project members, students, POLSABINA/SABINA IAC members and other invited guests. Arrangements for the visit of Mr. Kennedy Ngwira, studying at UDSM, to CSIR are being finalised.
December 2010: The SABINA Secretariat advertised for a third of Call for Applications for PhD Studentships in all the five countries of the Network. The dateline for submission of applications was 31December 2010 and 18 applications were received. The Secretariat starting compiling the applications for the membership of the Project to review and select the three candidates.
November 2010:
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Kumbukani Nyirenda and Tinotenda Shoko, PhD and MSc students returned to UNIMA from 6 and 3 month study tour of CSIR and UP, South Africa, respectively to continue research studies under the mentorship of Prof John Saka. |
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Arrangements are underway for Kennedy Ngwira, UDSM MSc student to move to CSIR for a 6 month study tour to finalise his research work on investigation of phytochemistry of some Malawian antimalarial plants under the mentorship of Dr. Vinesh Maharaj. |
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Frank Ngonda, SABINA Project Manager visited ACGT, Pretoria, South Africa from 11-13 November 2010 for a preliminary planning meeting of SABINA Annual meeting to be held in Windhoek, Namibia from 19-26 February 2011 which will be co-sponsored by POL-SABINA. |
September 2010: SABINA Project staff and students participated in a 6-day SABINA Project Management, HPLC & Bioinformatics training workshop (29 August-5 September 2010) hosted by University of Pretoria. The team visited the research facilities at CSIR and WITS as part of nodes familiarization programme.
Project staff held a staff meeting on 2nd September 2010 at which a 5 member POLSABINA/SABINA International Advisory Committee was constituted.
August 2010:
University of Pretoria will host a 6-day SABINA Project Management, HPLC & Bioinformatics training workshop (3 day parallel sessions for HPLC & Bioinformatics and 2 day Project management session) for project members and students from 29 August - 5 September 2010.
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TRFCA and SABINA secretariat hosted POL-SABINA Project Manager, Ella Nyakunu from 13-16 July, 2010 on her tour of institutions implementing activities under EU-ACP funded programme. |
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Ms. Petrina Kapewangolo, PhD student under mentorship of Prof. Debra Meyer from UNAM has completed the registration process at the University of Pretoria. |
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PhD student Justin Omolo has completed a 1½year research attachment at CSIR under the mentorship of Dr. Vinesh Maharaj and has since moved to Wits University for further research work under Prof Charles de Koning. |
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MSc student Kennedy Ngwira has successfully completed first year courses at UDSM and has started his second year research work under the mentorship of Dr Quintino Mgani. |
June 2010:
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Prof Debra Meyer, principal investigator of the HIV/AIDS Laboratory of the Biochemistry Department of the UP has joined SABINA network as a project member. Her research involves metabonomics for detecting HIV/AIDS biomarkers, metallodrug development and designing synthetic peptide vaccine components. She will be supervising Petrina Kapewangolo, a PhD student from Namibia. |
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Tinotenda Shoko, MSc student at UNIMA is on a 3-month study tour at UP, South Africa to undertake further research work under the mentorship of Prof Zeno Apostolides. His MSc focuses on the Flavour Chemistry of some indigenous fruits and vegetables in Malawi. |
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Ella Nyakunu, started working on 1st June 2010 as Project Manager for the EU funded POL-SABINA programme (Policy and Support Actions for SABINA) and will be based at ACGT, Pretoria, South Africa. She holds an MSc in Food Science from the University of Zimbabwe and before joining POL SABINA, she worked as a Project Manager at the CIDA City Campus, Johannesburg. |
May 2010:
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Arrangements are underway for Tinotenda Shoko, UNIMA MSc student to move to UP for his further laboratory work concerning “Flavour chemistry of some Malawian fruits and vegetables.” |
The network is instituting a 5-member POL-SABINA International Advisory Committee. Until now 7 candidates from across the world have submitted their curriculum vitae for consideration and finalisation of the Committee is expected by 31 May 2010.
April 2010:
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Kumbukani Nyirenda, PhD student at UNIMA is on a 6 month study tour at CSIR, South Africa to undertake laboratory research work under the mentorship of Dr Vanesh Maharaj. He is studying the phytochemistry of some medicinal plants from Malawi. His PhD focuses on the Chemistry and Medicinal Potential of Five Malawian Plants. |
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Liberata Mwita, MSc student at UDSM completed a 7-week short course (Introduction to Bioinformatics) at Cape Town and moved to University of Pretoria for advanced courses Bioinformatics studies on 2 April, 2010. |
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Benjamin Kumwenda, Bioinformatics PhD student reported for studies at UP. His PhD research project focuses on Comparative genomics study of completely sequenced Thermus sp. strains to enhance and facilitate their application in biotechnology for thermos table enzyme biosynthesis under mentorship of Dr Oleg Reva. |
March 2010:
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Godwil Madamombe, a PhD student, has finalised the registration process at UP and is currently attending modules and seminars. |
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Adushan Pillay, a PhD student, has completed his registration at WITS and is currently doing research work. |
Moola Nyambe, an MSc student at UNAM, has completed registration and is currently attending classes
Project members are in the process of reaching a consensus on the possible dates for the networks project management workshop + HPLC + Phylogenetics.
February 2010: Dr. Margareth S. Kyewalyanga and Dr. Musa Chacha, WIO-RISE Academic Director and Technical Coordinator respectively, had productive discussions on strengthening collaboration with the SABINA secretariat from February 7-9.
Kumbukani Nyirenda, a PhD student, is finalizing the registration process at the University of Malawi and arrangements are underway for his travel to CSIR in April 2010.
Godwil Madamombe, a PhD student, has started the registration process at the University of Pretoria.
Benjamin Kumwenda has been offered a SABINA scholarship and has been admitted to pursue a PhD in bioninformatics at the University of Pretoria. He is presently processing his travel and study permits.
Dr Sylvester Lyantagaye from the University of Dar es Salaam is participating in a theoretical course on “Mouse Genetics: Models for Human Diseases" at the International Center for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, Italy from February 22-25.
The SABINA Secretariat has submitted a proposal on strengthening research management to SIG/RISE which is being planned for June/July, 2010.
January 2010: Liberata Mwita, an MSc student, has completed registration at UDSM. Meanwhile, logistical arrangements are underway for her travel to UP to attend bioinformatics courses.
December 2009: SABINA had an annual review meeting from December 2-4 at Chancellor College in Zomba, Malawi. A group photo from the event is below.
October 2009: A 5 member team comprised of Prof. John Saka, Prof. Jane Morris, Dr. Martha Kandawa-Schulz, Dr. Sylvester Lyantagaye and Mr. Frank Ngonda participated in the RISE Annual meeting from 27-29 September at the Nairobi Hilton Hotel in Kenya. A progress report was presented.
All six students offered a SABINA fellowship in the second round have now accepted and the process of registration has commenced within the various institutions.
The SABINA network hosted Ms. Arlen Hastings, the Executive Director of the Science Initiative Group, in October 2009. She visited the University of Malawi, the Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa Head Office, the African Centre for Gene Technologies, the University of Pretoria and the University of Namibia.
September 2009: Four PhD (1 female and 3 males) and two female MSc candidates have been offered SABINA fellowships in the second cohort. Offer letters have been sent to each candidate.
August 2009: The sixth candidate of the first group, Kennedy Ngwira from Malawi, is now at University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and has started his Masters in Applied Chemistry studies.
July 2009: Thirty one applications (21 MSc (12 females) and 10 PhD (3 females)) were received for 2009/2010 SABINA fellowships. A dossier containing the applications and supporting documents has been circulated to project members for review.
The proposal submitted to the EU-ACP call has passed the first evaluation stage and the response to the full evaluation is being awaited. The network has at least a 50% chance of success to leverage the RISE funding.
May 2009:
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Mr. Frank Ngonda, the Project Manager, reported for duties on 21 May, 2009. Mr Ngonda previously worked for the Ministry of Health and Population as its Project Manager for the Traditional Medicine Project. He is now developing a work plan for the first year detailing major activities, milestones and outputs for the Project. |
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Nicholas Mphangwe from Malawi has now received his study permit from the South African High Commission in Lilongwe, Malawi and is due to travel to the University of Pretoria early next month. |
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Mr. Tinotenda Shoko from Zimbabwe at the University of Malawi is working on his thesis proposal which is due for presentation in July 2009. |
April 2009: A Project Manager has been appointed at the University of Malawi and is due to start work on 4 May 2009. A brief profile and photo will be provided in the next report.
The majority of the students are in place and have commenced work on their thesis proposals under the guidance of their supervisors.
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Justin Omolo from Tanzania has been registered at the University of the Witwatersrand under the supervision of Prof Charles de Koning. Justin will be spending his first year at the CSIR in Pretoria under the co-supervision of Dr Vinesh Maharaj, working on some plants from Tanzania with potential anti-HIV properties. |
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M. Pelly Malebe has registered at Pretoria for a MSc under the supervision of Prof Apostolides. She replaces Ms. Mariet Wium who withdrew from the programme. Ms. Malebe will be confirming the validity of a molecular marker for drought tolerance in tea, and developing a map of the global genetic diversity in tea plants. A co-supervisor from Malawi is still being confirmed. |
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Nicholas Mphangwe from Malawi has been accepted for admission at the University of Pretoria and is sorting out the details of his visa. He should be in a position to start his project soon. He is permanently employed by the Tea Research Foundation of Central Africa (TRFCA) and will be working on a project identify molecular markers for traits of interest, to support the tea breeding programme. A member of the staff at the TRFCA will probably act as a co-supervisor. |
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Ms. Secilia Ilonga has registered for a MSc degree at the University of Namibia. Her first year will mainly be taught coursework. She will be co-supervised by Dr. Lyantagaye at the University of Dar es Salaam. |
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Following protracted negotiations with the University of Dar es Salaam, Mr. Kennedy Ngwira from Malawi has been accepted to register as a local student and will not have to pay international registration fees. |
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Mr. Tinotenda Shoka from Zimbabwe has registered at the University of Malawi under the supervision of Prof. John Saka. |
The website address http://www.sabina-africa.org has been registered for the SABINA network and is currently being populated.
March 2009: A meeting of representatives from all SABINA institutions took place at the University of Pretoria in early December. Six MSc and PhD candidates were selected from the applicant pool. Each university in the SABINA network has at least one student supported through RISE. Students are currently working out their research topics with their supervisors.
One student has commenced PhD studies at the University of Witwatersrand; he will spend his first year in the program based at CSIR. Two other students have begun their MSc studies, one at the University of Pretoria and one at the University of Namibia. An MSc student begins studies at the University of Malawi in April. The University of Dar es Salaam has just admitted the MSc student who will be based there, and admission for PhD studies for the sixth student is pending at the University of Pretoria.
A project manager, to be based at the secretariat in Malawi, will join the project in May.
